Zarf

 In my crossword puzzle game of today I had to guess a four letter word meaning: “the cardboard sleeve around a coffee cup”.

I had enough letters to attempt using “zarf” as an answer and, lo and behold, it was the right guess!

I suspected that this word was taken from Arabic as it is commonly used to describe an envelope and here’s what I found in Wikipedia:

“A zarf is something that helps you hold a hot cup without burning your fingers. Don't leave the coffee shop without your zarf! Zarf is a peculiar looking word that is a loaner from Arabic and originally denoted a metal holder for a drinking glass — which would be unwieldy to handle if it contained a hot beverage.”

To my Egyptian friends and family: I’m intrigued to know if you use this term if and when you ask for a sleeve for your coffee cup?

Hani Badawi 

February 18, 2023